NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCEANNUAL MEETING. Auckland, March 12..

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 351, 16 March 1889, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCEANNUAL MEETING. Auckland, March 12..

Thk thirct anuual meeomg of the New Zealand Alliance for the Suppression. of the Liquor Traffic was commenced at. fche Y. AJ.C.A. Rooms ab 2 p.m.. to-day. A u eefcini^ of the Council was then held, Sir William Fox (President) in the chair. There were also present: The, Rev. J. Chew, Rev. E. Beat, Measri Monk, M.H.R., T. VV. Glover, J. Waymour,h, J. Newman, \V. Speight, Cox, C. G. Hill, Proberb, J. W. Carr, J. Lamb, G'auprhey, E. H. Taylor, E. Bel], J. Carr, Thos. hall, J. Graham, H. Hirst, Moses and others. Many apologies for non-atten-dance were also read. Proceedings were commenced with silent prayer.

Rei'out. — Tho annual report was read by Mr Glover. Ib stated that the third year's opoiationpoi thcAiiiance have been of a /airly [satisfactory character, whether consideted ! from a financial, educational, or aggressive ! standpoint. The usual work of establish iiiij and solidifying auxiliaries throughout tho colony has boon earned on with energy by our agent and others during the year. A rotoionco tv the balance-sheet will show that, notwithstanding the undoubtedly depressed condition of business atia.ii* thioughout the colony during the year, our frienns have continued their support uith a liberality quite equal to that of the preceding >ear. it wilt also be noted that, in pursuance ot the permanent policy of the Executive Committee, no liability has been inclined beyond what our funds would meet. We close with a endit balance of £14 16s 2d : the year's receipts being £717 Is Bd, and the expendituie £702 5j 6d. Hefereuci was noxt made to the necessity of platiorm work and the importance of spreading bound literature bearing upon ( Due subject of prohibition and the economics of the drink traih'c. The Alliance leaflets now number 23. Under the heading •' Movement in Parliament" the report fetated :In accordant. c with tho intention expressed in last yeai'a report, the execu- j tive gob introduced to the notice of ParJiamentt'he following re^'lution, whioh willbecome an annually recurring one, so fat as the wishes of Alliance a>o concerned :—: — " Whereas Ihe enounouH direct expenditure on intoxicating liquors in this colony — amounting annually to more than two uiilJiond sterling contributes largely to the existing depression, ad»Js nuitetiaily to crime and poverty, and reduces the capital available lor repioductive industries ; and wheieas the people, under the existing law, are powerless to remove the principal cause of these evils, it i*, in the opinion ot this House, imperative that the Government should, without delay, intioduce a Bill givintr power to the people, by direct vote at i he ballot-box, piiiodically takei, to prohibit the sale of &uch liquora within i ho district in which- they reside." Beyond getting the resolution upon the order paper of the .House of Kepiesentatives, howexer, little progress was gamed, as, owing »o the peculiar -constitution ot the House, business aliecting a social reform su h as the lesolution contemplates, had, in tho estimation of our Petrliamentary fi tends, bub a poor chance of full discussion and consideration, and, therefore, it was not forced forward. The coming session, however, the Exocubive consider, should not b6 allowed to pass without a vote being taken upon tho resolution. Reference was next made to the question of comuensation to publicans, and satisfaction expieesea at t'.o defeat of the Imperial Government in its attempt to confer upon tho liquor tiaffic a vested interest in their trade. "Piohihition in the Colonies " was dealt with ab length, and reference made to the pi ogres* in Canada, Victoria, and Queensland. The International Temperance Conference held at Melbourne duiing the Centennial Exhibition was pronounced a great success. Under the heading "Prohibition Contents" bhorcporbstated: — Tho distinguishing feature of the year has, in the belief of your Executive, been the marked advance which the principle of prohibition has made in the estimation of tcmpeiance workers throughout tho colony. In nothing ha.s this been more prominently displayed than in many of the contests which have taken place over the elections of licensing committees. During the year the contests in relation to the election of licensing committees, in a considerable number of districts, were fought on this prohibition issue, in every case our fiiends giving ample notice that, if their candidates weie elected, no licenses for the sale of intoxicants would be issued in the districts concerned. Varying success at' ended these efiorts. in some instances prohibition candidates were returned, in others beaten by larger or smaller majorities, buc in every case our friends worked, and took success or defeat, with a satisfaction that no participation in an ordinary licensing election could over afford. Some gratifying features were exhibited by there contests : First, ib may be noted that as great, or greater interest in point of number of ratepayers voting, has been displayed as hitherto ; next, tho clearness of the principle raised has, for the fir&b time, created and tharply cleaned the proliquor and anti-liquor parties, no mere question of personal capacity on the part of the candidates clouding th© issue. Under the heading " Church Aid,' resolutions parsed by the General Assembly of tho Ptesbyterian churches of New Zealand, and Congregational Union of New Zealand, at their recent meetings in Auckland, and the aid accorded by temperance organisations,, was gratefully acknow ledged. The report then proceeds as follows :—: —

StATISI'ICS OF THIi LIQUOR TRAFFIC. — The declension in the consumption of intoxicating drink, the public reco» ds, it is pleasing to note, show is still going on. While the number of public facilities for obtaining drink is not materially altered from the year 1886, referred to in last year's report, the quantity consumed and the amount of money spent hat. been approciably reduced in 1887, the lastyear for which the records are complete. It is also pleasing to note that the report ot the Regis-trar-Gen' ral in his New Zealand statistic*, appears to give year by year more attention to the subject ot liquor consumption and Us relation to the morality and well being of the people. This recognition on the part of the statistical department of the close connection which exists between n sobej* nation and a prosperous one is Very gratifying, ;md marks a distinct advance upon tho days when tho n.'iwon'B money spent upon drink was deemed well and patriotically spent. Attached to this report will be found some most interesting details regarding the decrease in l.quor consumption in 1887, as against 1886. This decrease, j though nob so large per head of popula- j tion as that between 1885 and 1886, is still satisfactory as showing the downward tendency, On the basic of the retail prices set forth on the table alluded to, the drink bill for 1887 was £2,093,430 as against £2,154,855f0r 1886, a decrcaso of £61,425, ' The cost per head of population is, therefore, upon thj* basis of retail cost, about £3 9s sd, a reduction of about 2s 4d per head as against last year. These calculations are made 'exclusive of the Maori nopulation.

Purchasing Powdkr?Not Beduoed— -The I usual reply ( given by pro-liquor men to

statements, made regarding the growing ao,briety of the, people is that " hard times " pr.evenb people using liquor; "they have not the money to buy with!" Now, wliile it ie -quite true times have been hard, the fact lomains.that the purchasing power of the people st.ill remained as great as in 1886, bijit it has been expanded in a dijfvent direction. The tea and sugar imported duting 1887 exceeded in value that of 1886 by C 118, 612, or a sum double that saved m the drink bill of the year. The fact appears to. ,be bhafc strong drink is gradually being discarded as a boverage by th> young people growing up in the colony. If further proof be required of the improving habits of the people, a reference to the spirit and beer consumption for the group of; years from 1881 to the present should satisfy. In 1881 the consumption per head was : Of spirits, 1 159 gallons; of beer, 10215 gallons. This gradually reduced, until at the end of 1887 it stood : Spirits per head 0-770 gallons; beer, 7651 gallons. The win© consumption has also decreased by about 43 per cent, per head. All this is J not owing merely to the increase of population, but largely to the fact that there is an absolute and material decrease in the quantity of liquor consumed.

Dkink-causkd Deaths. -The Registrar gives 23 deaths, 14 males and 9 females, as caused by "alcoholism " directly; but he naturally adds, " The actual number of deaths caused by the abuse of intoxicating drinks cannot bo Ascertained, as many deaths which are classified under the special disease given as the immediate cau-e of death may be primarily attributed to habits of intemperance." Of course, no estimate of a decided character can ever be made of drink-caused deaths t-o lonjr as many medical men, coroners' juries, and friends of people dying through diink combino to hide up the true cause under tome other title.

Crimb of Drunkenness,-- Following up the figures given in lost year's report, it io pleasing to note the diminution of drunkenness, so far as it is exhibited by the records of police courts, which has again taken place The reduction of convictions for drunkenness since 1883 is very striking. In 1883 there were 6,779 convictions under this, charge, or 12*81 persons per 1,000 of population. In 1884 thi* reduced to 6,527 (11-81 per ],000); in 1885, 6,494 convictions (11-40 per 1.000); in 1886, 5,983 convictions (1028 per 1,000) ; and in 1887 this was further reduced to 5,372 convictions, or 8*93 persons to the 1,000 of population. So that in the four | years the convictions ha^e been reduc»d by 1,407, or 3*Bo persons in the 1,000 of popula- j tion — roughly a reduction of between a- fifth and a-fourth of the whole. There were 1,088 eepaiate persons received into prison dining the year on account of drunkenness, being a decrease upon the previous year of 41 persons ; so thah, as the natural result of the lessened consumption of d ink, there are fewer persons made a charge upon the country through drunkenness.

/Young New Zealand Sober. — Of the 1,088 pereotiß charged with drunkenness during the year, but 51 were New Zealand born of European parentage. Young N w Zealand, therefore, furnished but 4*68 per cent, of those charged with drunkenness ; while th© percentage they bear I to the whole population is 51*89. It may be added as an interesting fact that during the year the New Zetland born population of European parents furnished but 11*44 per cent, of the whole crime. From this it may safely be prognosticated that" when the liquor traffic : and its attendant vice 1 * are taken from among the young people ot this country, the problem of our crime is largely solved, j They are sober, and, therefore, proportion- j ally non-criminal. ;

Organising Agent. — The three-year period for which the engagement of the Alliance with our agent, Mr T. W. Glover, lasted, having expired, fresh arrangements have been entored into with that gentleman of a nature mutually satisfactory. The heartiest thanks of the Alliance are due to Mr Glover for the hard, persevering, and eminently successful work which he has done for it, he having exhibited an enthusiasm on our behalf *vhichth© merefactof his being salaried would not have claimed. Nothing is more forcibly impressed upon the notice of the Executive Committee than the fact that a second agent in at once required. To do this me»ns a necessary annual increase to our revenue of at least £350. As an instalment towards further aggresfcive work, the Executive have ar- | langed with Mr R. Coad, an old and experienced Alliance agent in England, to vWt this colony about August next, and j give three months' wor< to this Alliance. This engagement of Mr Coad is all the more necessary and welcome becavse of the fact that Mr Glover has arranged for three months' leave, during which to \isit the other Australian co'onies. The " keynote " for the coming season was stated to be patient, plodding, systematic work, assuming a move aggressive character than formerly, clearing the wny for " prohibition without compentation." Sir William Fox, in his opening addre a s, said that the Alliance had during the past year carried out the intention indicated at the previous annual meeting, viz.. — good, patient, plodding wo k. The year had not been a sensational one. An effort was made to put their principles befoie the House," but although their resolutions weie placed in good hands, the business of P rliament would net permit of their being | brought forward during last session. He hoped that when the time came for the election of new members of Parliament, {hey would be afete to return a number who could Pee their way to carry out the principles for which the Alliance were working. Many members of the present Parliament had either not made up their minds on the question of compenbation, or to gr<inb prohibition without compensation. They had now the full consent to the prohibitive veto, and all they had to do was to educate them on the question of compensation. In the Registrar-General's returns only 23 deaths in both sexes were credited t<i strong drink, but he believed that if the facts j were known the number would nob be hundreds but thousands. The very lowest at which it was put in the old country by the best authorities was 60,000 deaths annually fiom the diiect effects of alcohol. Therefore, he calculated that if they did not have 15,000 people killed with drink here they ought to. (Laughter.) Would it be boo great an estimate to pay that every public house killed ifce man or woman a year ? We had 1,500 houses, and they got 1,500 poreons killed directly bv alcohol, nob t,o reckon the unfortunate women and children starved to death throuyh the use of drink indirectly. The RegjatrarGeneral, he submitted, was the last man who could give reliable information on such a question. Mr Monk, M.H.R., moved the adoption of the report, a synopsis of which appeared in our last issue. He remarked with special j pleasure the interest taken by miuiaters in this movement, and. agroed' with the President as to the absurdity of the Registrar's record of deaths .from strong drink. AH the Alliance asked W»s that upon this matter the people should be educated, and that machinery should be provided whereby public opinion should be asce-tained and' given oflecb to by periodical tests. He urged renewed effort in a very earnest and lengthy speech.

MrJ. Newman, seconded the resolution. Ho mentioned that the Society had 150 1 auxiliaries in New Zealand, so that the { whole community from North to South had been agitating for temperance during the year. Mr W. Speijrhb referred bo the remarks made as to the Registrar's return of drinkcaused deaths. The Rorristrar gave 23 deaths, but he said that the actual number could not be ascertained. The resolution was put and carried.

OFFICERS. On the motion of Mr Caughey, seconded by Mr Brown, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year, and the thanks of the Council tendered to the gentlemen who had worked so assiduously in the past : ' President, Hon. Sir Wiliiam Fox, M.A., X C. M.G. ; Vice-Presidents. Hon. Sir Harry Atkinson, K.C.M.G. (Premier), Hon. Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G.. Yen. Archdeacon Dudley, F. H. F»ase , J.P., I). Goldie, M.U.R., J. Harding:, llori Kopiho, R. C. Hughes, Rev. F. \V. Isitfc, J. \V. Jajro. J. i i Leni-ie, J. Newman, J.P., Rev. \V. C OUiver, Rev. A. Reid, J. A. D. Adamf»,Hon. i Thos. Dick, Thos. Field. J. Fulfcon.M H.R., i R.Hobbs, M.H.R., Rev.L.M.isitt, W.Korr, Dr. Knight, J. Lutnb,E. O'Key. A. Ronnie, J.P., H. Neal, R. Monk, M.H.R., T. i\i. Lane, J.P., W. Seth Smith, Rev. R. Waddel, M.A., E. Withy, M.H.R., J. Joyce, M.H.R., Rev. B. Best. Executive Com- j mittee : S. J. Ambury, J. W. Carr, A. Cox, C. (j. Fleming, Geo. Greyory,W. P. Hunfer, W. C. McDowell. BA. ; Councillors, W. H. Smith, \V. J. Speight, J. Waymouth ; Chairman of Executive, Sir WiJliurn Fox ; Treasurer, Mr J. Elkin ; Hon. Secretary, Mr J. Newman.

PROHIBITION. The Key. Mr Best moved, " That this Council, recognising the liquor traffic to be detrimental to the economical, physical, n-onil, and domestic welfare of the inhabitant's of the colony, affirms vrith increased emphasis the constitutional right of the people to suppress tha traffic, and that the oxeicise of the diiecb veto shall be absolutely unfettered, bo that in no district shall the of intoxicating liquors be licenced contrary to the will of the people resident theioin." He said that the positions assumed in the resolution were so evident that that they required no arguments tocommend them. No ono could consider the subject for five minutes without coming to the conclusion that each ono of the statements fftis true. Mr Best also mentioned that the Wesleyan Methodist Church had not omitted, at their hist Conference, to give' their usual testimony on th»!< question. Re v . Mr Garland seconded the resolution. Speaking ol the licensing elections, he made particular mention of the fact that where there vv ere originally three parties, viz. the publican, mode ate, and temperance parties, the publican | arty had now drupfied out. The publican party had claimed the modeiates, but the tern perance party remained intact. Mr Garland also referred to tho Pon oonby election, which tcsulted in favour of tho publicans, and said that he believed their large majority was won by faggot vote-. This wa* a serious difficulty for the temperance workers, but he would not advise that the temperance party should report to faggot vote*. They should ketp their record clean, and uso greater exertion to have temporaries ue >ple exerci-e their true votes. Mr Garland also expressed his conviction that) many prominent members of the Alliance were wrong in declining to sit on licensing committees except as toial prohibitionist" 1 . (Applau.se and dissent.) If they could not kilt the animal it was well to maim him, and their best men should feel it their duty to seek a place on the licci-sing benches. The resolution was carried unanimously.

j COMPENSATION. 1 Rev. Mi 1 Chew moved, *' That this Coun- | ctl rejoiceß at the success which attended the great agitation in England against compensation, believing as they do that any ! such proposal for the compensation of liquor J sellers is contmry t-i political equity, social I ju-tice, and British law. 1 ' He paid he agretd heartily with every syllable and word in this resolution, and he moved it with great pleasure. He said that he had found more temperance workers among the Christian ministers than in any other cliss of people. He also maintained that it was the ministers that had converted the laymen, and not tho laymen that had converted the ministers. (Laughter.) Mr Hill seconded the resolution. He naid that although he believed the ministers were with them, he must say that they did not originate this movement. The resolution was earned unanimously. Rev. Mr Garland mo\ed, 31 r Monk, M.H.R., seconded, and it was carried, "That a letter bo addressed by the Chairman of the meeting to the United Kingdom Alliance, thanking them for the great woik they have dune in resisting the attempt made by the Imperial Government to enforce compensation for prohibition." Roy. Mr Miller, of Onehungn, moved : " That this Council feels the urgent need of increased funda to sustain energetic and aggiessivo agiba?ion, and hereby pledge* itself that during the coming year it will aid the Executive by trying to obtain additional contributions to the funds of the New Zealand Alliance.' Mr J. W. Cirr seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.

STATE DISTILLERIES. Mr E. Can* moved, •' That this Council regrets the proposition made by a mombei of the House of Representatives for tho establishment of State distilleries, and would urge all friends of our movement to oppose f»ueh proposition, seeing that it woul-i give the Government a direct pecuniary interest in the manufacture of spirituous liquors." Ifc was, he said, a matter of history that? a distillery was once established in New Zealand, and it was Ptopped because of tho loss that resulted. He objected to the establishment of dtetilleues because it would pi event the adoption of prohibition, and ui^ed that if a distillery were established it would not brine about the consumption of local produce that some imagined. It was a delusion to imagine that any appreciable amount of labour would be employed by a distillery. He also questioned whefher the Go eminent had power to work against beer rings and fepirifc rings, or whether they would work with thes-e rings. Mr liartnell, of Port Albert, a prohibition settlement, seconded the lesolution. He jegaided it as infamous that the Government should embark in the liquor traffic. The rosolution was carried unanimously.

EXTENSION OF THE FRANCHISE. MrJ.T, Garljck moved, "Thata.«i the evil B of the liquor traffic press with peculiar severity on women, this Council liearbily recommends the extension of the franchise to all women * above the ape of twenty one years." Mr R. French seconded the resolution. The Council expressed sympathy with the resolution, but deferred consideration. The Council rose<nt~'6 p.m.